“The French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC) at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has launched its 2026 community project in Sharpeville, providing domestic electrical installation training to empower communities in the Vaal region.”
02 March 2026 | Story by: Thomas Rasehloka | Picture by: Sifiso Nomzaza
2 minutes read time.
On 20 February 2026, the French Southern African Schneider Electric Education Centre (F’SASEC) at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) launched its first community project for 2026 in partnership with the Kitso Information Development Centre (KIDC) in Sharpeville.
The Centre of Excellence offers Domestic Installation training to members of the Vaal region as part of its structured community outreach programme. The initiative seeks to equip participants with practical electrical skills while promoting safety and compliance within local communities.
The project was first established in 2025, with the inaugural cohort comprising 13 students from the Vaal region. The current cohort consists of 22 students between the ages of 21 and 40. Some participants have prior experience in Electrical Engineering, while others are entering the field for the first time.
Ms Siphenathi Mketsi, one of the trainees, shared that she previously worked for various electrical engineering companies and is currently unemployed. She believes the programme will strengthen her practical expertise and enhance both her employability and entrepreneurial prospects.
“I want to learn more about domestic installation so that I can open my own company and assist people with their home wiring. With the current unemployment rate, one should not only look at being employed but also at being an employer,” she said.
The project was introduced to promote electrical safety and help address the challenge of illegal wiring within the Vaal community. Ms Welile Nyembe, F’SASEC Coordinator, noted that the community response has been exceptional, with most recruitment driven through word of mouth.
“This project is still in its early stages, as we are running it for the second year now. Our goal is to attract a class of 50 students in future and to further strengthen our relationship with KIDC and the broader Vaal community,” said Nyembe.
Mr Vuyani Simelane, F’SASEC Lab Assistant and facilitator of the training at KIDC, explained that one of the primary challenges has been accommodating participants with diverse personal responsibilities. Some trainees have families to support and are occasionally unable to attend sessions consistently.
“This group differs from the students I train at F’SASEC. Some of the attendees completed school as far back as 1997, which requires revisiting foundational Mathematics and Physics concepts,” Simelane said.
He added that facilitating such a group demands patience, adaptability and sustained encouragement.
The training programme will run for three months, after which participants will receive a certificate of attendance. Prospective candidates who wish to join the next cohort may apply directly at the Kitso Information Development Centre in Sharpeville.